The Nigerian Police Force just swapped faces at the microphone — and Nigerians are already asking: will anything really change?
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has tapped CSP Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), replacing DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who has been redeployed to Delta State after a promotion.
On paper, it looks like a normal reshuffle. But in a country where the police’s biggest enemy is public distrust, this appointment could be more than just routine — it might be the Force’s last attempt to repair its battered image.
Who Is Hundeyin
Benjamin Hundeyin isn’t a stranger. As the Lagos State Police PRO, he turned press briefings into trending moments, juggling journalists, Twitter critics, and street-level community engagement.
Armed with degrees in English and criminology, and certified by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Hundeyin’s résumé screams “media-savvy.”
But credentials are one thing, perception is another. Nigerians are less concerned about how many degrees he holds, and more about whether he’ll tell the truth when the Force stumbles.
Adejobi’s Shadow: The Controversy He Leaves Behind
DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi wasn’t just a PRO; he was a lightning rod. Critics accused him of defending the indefensible — justifying police brutality, clashing with activists online, and brushing aside rights abuses. Supporters, meanwhile, praised his fiery defense of the Force as “loyalty.”
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His redeployment to Delta isn’t just about promotions, it’s about optics. By moving Adejobi out of the spotlight, the IGP may be quietly acknowledging that Nigerians need a new voice, one less tainted by controversy.
Is Hundeyin A Fresh Start?
Here’s the real question:
* Will Hundeyin open up the Force to accountability — admitting mistakes, engaging critics, and changing tone?
* Or will he become just another polished defender of the same old problems?
Public relations in Nigeria isn’t just about press releases. It’s about whether Nigerians trust the man behind the microphone — and by extension, the uniform.
Testing The Microphone
In the coming weeks, the new Force PRO’s first press conference will be his litmus test. Nigerians don’t want spin; they want honesty.
If Hundeyin leans into transparency, he could be the start of something different. If he doesn’t, his tenure will confirm what many believe — that in Nigeria, the police can change their spokesperson, but not their story.
